“He has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be exalted in honor. The wicked will see it and be vexed, he will
gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm
112:9-10)

Even the birds of the air, are
taken care of by the Lord. He provides for everything He has made. The wicked
take what is intended for others and are vexed when they are provided for in
spite of their best intentions to leave others destitute. There are great
mysteries in this world. The Lord provides all that is needed for all of His
creation, even the wicked.

Lord, even in writing this I thought about many things I could say were
exceptions, but these excuses are not true. There is more than enough for
everyone on this planet. Lord, You teach me to care for others as You care for
me. Lead me in this direction so that I would stop thinking in circles and
start walking the path You have set me upon. Lead me. O Lord. where I should
go.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for teaching
me of the goodness of the Father. Help me today to live out the faith You have
given me. Guide me in Your goodness to help others as You have helped me. May I
learn a little more about what it means to abide in You as You abide in me. Through
all of the things that will happen teach me to rejoice and give praise for all
of the goodness of the Father. Amen.

“He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the
Lord. His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction
on his adversaries.” (Psalm 112:7-8)

Evil comes in this world and
there are those who do what is wicked in the sight of the Lord. Their time is
short and they will be forgotten when they are gone. Know that only what is
good and right shall prosper. Come then into the presence of the Lord and seek
Him while He may be found. He will bring justice to those in need and His is
the vengeance that will punish the wicked.

Holy Spirit, lead me through the obstacles I encounter in this age
which hinder me from trusting in the righteousness and justice which is Yours
and will be revealed at the right time. Help me to trust in You and not myself,
for You alone are just and true. May I learn through Your guidance to abide in
all that comes knowing that all things are in Your hands and will unfold as
planned.

Lord Jesus, You also were the
recipient of injustice and yet this was as had been planned from the beginning.
Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth which You have established that I may
learn to trust You above all things. Guide me today that I may make right
choices and abide in the truth of Your presence. Lead me, Lord, according to
Your purpose that I may grow in Your likeness. Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

3^rd Sunday in Lent, Cycle C (March 24, 2019)

 For the Church, the world, and our poor sinful selves, let us pray to our Lord, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Son, who warns us of our sin, and who provides our remedy. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who gives us grace to repent of our sin, and who provides an escape door when we are tempted to sin. Help us in these struggles; and have mercy on us when we fall.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Make the Church your sure sentinel, so that by word and deed, it helps many people to turn away from their sin and turn toward the Cross, upon which was hung their salvation. Keep your persecuted servants safe in their time of testing; and cause their tormentors to repent of their evil ways.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Help everyone in this congregation to be fruitful fig trees, abounding in righteousness, faithfulness, love, peace, and every good work that proclaims your glory and nourishes your people.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for everyone who is tempted to engage in sinful acts out of fear, desperation, ignorance, or malice. Help us to speak truth in love with them – and help us to hear words of truthful warning when they are spoken to us! Give us grace to encourage and accompany those who resolve to walk in the path of righteousness.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, our earthly leaders – in government, industry, education, and elsewhere – often seem blind, deaf, and dumb regarding wise words, just decisions, and righteous deeds. Lead them to repent of selfish, wrongheaded, and evil laws or decisions, and to eagerly seek the good you set before us all.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We plead on behalf of everyone who suffers in body, mind, or spirit – especially: {List}. We pray for everyone who cares for hurting, lonely, grieving, and vulnerable people. Refresh them with your gracious Spirit, and give them the joy of your saving help.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy Father, thank you for the lives of your faithful servants who now rest from their labors. Keep their memories bright and their witness strong. Keep us in fellowship with them by faith, and with one another by love. Then, we pray: gather all who have been redeemed through the death and resurrection of your Son into the blessedness of your Kingdom, where with you and the Holy Spirit he reigns as Savior, Lord and God forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear us, dear Lord; and answer our prayers according to your will, to your glory and for the benefit of the people you long to save.

Amen.

“It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain
his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be
remembered forever.” (Psalm 112:5-6)

The fruits of those who do what
is right in the sight of the Lord, gives evidence of their faith. They who practice
what is right and good show forth the justice of the Lord. Blessed are they who
look to the Lord and seek to live according to His word. Come into a life that
seeks first above all things to please the Lord. Know that in Him is all
goodness and mercy.

Lord, You know my inner life and the things I do that do not reflect
Your commands. Teach me to do as You would have me do that I may grow into the
kind of person You are calling me to be in faith. Remove the obstacles that
hinder a life of faithfulness that I may abide in the truth of Your Word and in
Your presence. Lead me away from the ways of this world into the goodness of
eternity.

Lord Jesus, You gave of Yourself
to others each day. By Your example help me to help others as the Spirit leads.
Guide me in the way of goodness that I may now and always live according to the
commands You have given, doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Lead me,
O Lord, and help me to always follow You as You guide me in the way of
salvation which You have prepared. Amen.

“Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures
forever. Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and
compassionate and righteous.” (Psalm 112:3-4)

The true wealth is living in the
truth of the Lord. Yet also, with wisdom, the Lord grants additional gifts that
help living life in this world. The one who loves the Lord becomes like Him and
is compassionate and righteous. Come to the Lord and live in the power He gives
to become a child of His. Know that He will fulfill His promises and guide all
who remain in Him into eternal life.

Lord, I see what is there when I look at myself and know the lack of
faith in me. Help me, Lord, to grow into the person You are making me to be. Indeed,
bring compassion and righteousness into my heart that I may become what You
intend. Lead me along the right paths for Your name’s sake. May I learn from
You in humility and know that only by Your power and in Your providence am I
able to become what You are making of me.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being
with me moment by moment. You know the tugs and pulls that come upon me
throughout the day. Help me, I pray, to learn this day a little more about all
that needs to happen to remove what needs to be removed and to place what is
new and right in its place. Guide me that I may live this day in Your presence
and under Your direction. Amen.

“Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who
greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.” (Psalm 112:1-2)

Walking in the way of the Lord
is the way of blessing. Those walking in the way of wickedness do not prosper. Know
that the Lord allows the curses of wickedness to go to the third and fourth
generation, but also the blessing of the faithful to carry forward as well. It
is the lovingkindness of the LORD that gives blessings rather than curses to
those who follow Him. Walk with the Lord in His goodness and be blessed.

Lord, help me not to give in to the temptation of this age to live only
for myself. Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is hope and a future.
Lead me to live the kind of life that gives blessings to those who follow afterwards.
Through the witness you provide in my life, let others see You at work through
what I do and the life I lead. But let me not boast, for You alone are worthy
to be praised.

Lord Jesus, You have given the
example of humble service. Lead me in the way You would have me walk this day
that I may live in the way You would live if You were walking in my shoes. Guide
me to be gracious and humble that I may be a blessing to those around me. Teach
me the good things I need to know and then help me to put them into practice
for the Father’s glory. Amen.

“He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant
forever; holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise
endures forever.” (Psalm 111:9-10)

Lord, many in this world toss
Your name about as if You were an idea that has been made up. You are the One
through whom all things were made. In You alone is hope and our future. You are
holy and You call those who come by Your grace through faith to be holy. You
say that the beginning of this wisdom is fear of You. Lead me into truth that I
would know You, the Truth, always.

Many deny the Lord and rail against Him. He is God, the Creator of all
things. In Him is light and life. Come into the presence of the Lord and do not
fall prey to those who do not fear Him. Know that He is mighty to save and that
He will accomplish all that He has spoken. He has created You to join in the
praise of goodness. Do not delay, but come into His presence.

Lord, You have done all these
things and have had mercy on this wicked world that those who come to You may
have life eternal. Guide me through the wickedness of this world beginning with
fear of the Lord. Then lead me to give praise and thanks in all situations that
I may now and always abide in the truth You have spoken. May I always be found
in You and Your promise. Amen.

“The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are
sure. They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and
uprightness.” (Psalm 111:7-8)

Think for a moment what this
says. God is true and just. Anyone who says otherwise is denying the truth. You
need never defend the Lord, for He is just, but do stand in His justice and
trust that He will work all things together for good for those who love Him. Know
that this is the Lord’s creation and that all things are in His hands. He will
lead you into uprightness.

Lord, people will say to me that the way things are is not just. That
is true. But they often mean that they will deny You because they blame You for
the way things are. Keep me from this kind of thinking that I may stand firm in
Your truth. Teach me to walk in Your justice and to hold fast to Your Word of
truth that I may not be led astray by those who promote their own idea of
justice.

Lord Jesus, You came to provide
what was needed for all who believe. Guide me according to the precepts You
teach to live into the life to which I have been called by grace. Help me to
never bend to the ideas of this world and yet give mercy as You give mercy. Lead
me in the journey of becoming like You that I may abide all the days of my life
in Your presence. Amen.

“He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever. He has made known to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.” (Psalm 111:5-6)

How long is the memory of the Lord? When will He forget what He has promised? We think in human terms, but the Lord God, Creator of all things created time. He who is beyond time knows all things because He sees all things. When He gives a promise, it is more sure than the creation, for it is from the Creator. Live in His covenant, for it is sure. Live trusting His promises, for they shall come to pass.

Lord, I listen to those in this world who tell me things and I believe them, yet I will not believe the things You tell me. Turn my heart that I may trust You above all things. Guide me in Your goodness that I may live into the life You have promised. Through all that comes, let me see You above all things. Your works are forever and Your promises will never fail.

Lord Jesus, You who are the promise of grace, lead me in the promised grace that I will learn how to abide in You. Day by day, guide me in the goodness You have brought that in spite of what happens in this world I may trust You and the salvation You make possible. Help me to see that heaven and earth shall pass away, but Your Word is forever. Through You are the promised ones made new.  Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

2^nd Sunday in Lent, Cycle C (March 17, 2019)

 For the Church, the world, and our poor sinful selves, let us pray to our Lord, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

A brief silence

Lord Jesus, we bless and adore you for your loving desire to gather your people beneath your wings. Your mercy covers our sins – and gives us the courage to repent of them. Grant that we may always remember your tremendous sacrifice; walk in the pathway you have set before us; and stand firm in you, our Savior, Redeemer, and God.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Purify and transform your Church into a lamp shining with the light of your love in this sin-darkened world. Draw it close to you, so that through its words and deeds, many who are afar off may also be drawn close to you, their light and their life.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

There are many who suffer greatly because they name you as Lord. Hide them in the shadow of your wings. Transform their humiliation into your glory; and by their patience in suffering, cause their tormentors to repent of their evil deeds.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless this congregation with your dear presence; and make us mirror your humble, self-giving love to everyone we encounter.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, we pray for our enemies and for all who hate you. We pray for the wicked, the spiteful, the violent, the remorseless, and the cruel. Deliver them from their bondage to the Evil One. Forgive their sins. Grant them your Holy Spirit, that they might truly repent. Heal their spirits, clear their minds, and transform their hearts into thrones worthy of your presence.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Through our Baptism, we have been made citizens of your heavenly Kingdom, but we still live in this world. Therefore, we pray for our earthly leaders; for all who wield power and authority; and for all who stand in harm’s way in defense of life and liberty. Give them wisdom, integrity, humility, a hunger for justice and a thirst for mercy. And bestow your heavenly peace upon us all.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving Savior, gather the sick, sorrowing, suffering, and dying beneath your holy wings. Grant them shelter, comfort, healing, and hope. Especially we pray for: {List}. Bless, strengthen, and encourage everyone who cares for them, and grant to them all, the fullness of your strong saving love.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy Jesus, we entrust into your embrace our faithful departed, and all the innocent victims of crime, violence, and injustice – especially your precious little ones whose lives were snuffed out before birth. Shelter them all with your never-failing love. Comfort all who mourn with your never-failing compassion. Guild all who still walk through the valley of the shadow of death with your never-failing Light. And bring all whom you have redeemed through your passion, death, and resurrection, into your Kingdom, where with your Father and the Holy Spirit, you reign in never-failing joy, peace and love.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Hear us, dear Lord; and answer our prayers according to your will, to your glory and for the benefit of the people you came to save.

Amen.